U.S. patent application number 10/506129 was filed with the patent office on 2005-06-09 for handle for hospital bed.
Invention is credited to Sebastien, Gemeline.
Application Number | 20050120485 10/506129 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27805101 |
Filed Date | 2005-06-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050120485 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sebastien, Gemeline |
June 9, 2005 |
Handle for hospital bed
Abstract
A handle (5) is coupled to a frame (8) of a patient support by a
bracket (1, 1') and a post (2). The handle (5) includes a locking
mechanism (6).
Inventors: |
Sebastien, Gemeline;
(Ploemeur, FR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Bose McKinney & Evans
Intellectual Property Group
Suite 2700
135 North Pennsylvania Street
Indianapolis
IN
46204
US
|
Family ID: |
27805101 |
Appl. No.: |
10/506129 |
Filed: |
August 30, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
March 5, 2003 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US03/06877 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60361960 |
Mar 5, 2002 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
5/662 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61G 7/053 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
005/662 |
International
Class: |
A47C 031/00 |
Claims
1. An assist arm for use with a patient support structure having a
frame, the assist arm comprising: a post attached to the frame, the
post including a first bore having a first depth and a second bore
having a second depth that is greater than the first depth; and a
handle coupled to the post for rotational movement about the post
between an upright position and a retracted position, the handle
including a locking mechanism which cooperates with the first and
second bores to retain the handle in the retracted position and to
lock the handle in the upright position, respectively, the locking
mechanism automatically releasing the handle from the retracted
position when a force is applied on the handle to move the handle
toward the upright position.
2. The assist arm of claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism rotates
with the handle.
3. The assist arm of claim 1, further comprising a bracket coupled
to the post to removably attach the post and the handle to the
frame.
4. The assist arm of claim 1, wherein the frame defines a plane,
and the post defines a longitudinal axis that forms about a
45-degree angle relative to the plane of the frame.
5. The assist arm of claim 1, wherein the post is received within
the handle.
6. The assist arm of claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism
includes a locking bolt and a spring configured to bias the locking
bolt against the post so that the bolt engages the first and second
bores when aligned therewith.
7. The assist arm of claim 1, further comprising an actuator to
selectively release the locking mechanism when the handle is in the
locked upright position.
8. The assist arm of claim 1, wherein the frame defines a footprint
and the handle is located below the frame and within the footprint
of the frame when the handle is in the retracted position.
9. An assist arm for use with a patient support structure having a
frame, the assist arm comprising: a bracket having a pair of
substantially parallel sides connected together by a web, the sides
being configured to attach to opposed faces of the frame; a post
attached to the bracket; and a handle coupled to the post for
rotational movement about the post between an upright position and
a retracted position.
10. The assist arm of claim 9, wherein the post is received within
the handle.
11. The assist arm of claim 9, wherein the handle is located below
the frame when the handle is in the retracted position.
12. The assist arm of claim 11, wherein the handle is located
within a footprint defined by the frame when the handle is in the
retracted position.
13. The assist arm of claim 9, wherein the post defines a
longitudinal axis that is aligned at a 45-degree angle with respect
to the sides of the bracket.
14. The assist arm of claim 9, wherein the handle is located in a
first plane when the handle is in an upright position and the
handle is located in a second plane when the handle is in a
retracted position, the first plane being perpendicular to the
second plane.
15. The assist arm of claim 9, wherein the post includes a first
bore having a first depth and a second bore having a second depth
that is greater than the first depth, and the handle includes a
locking mechanism which cooperates with the first and second bores
to retain the handle in the retracted position and to lock the
handle in the upright position, respectively, the locking mechanism
automatically releasing the handle from the retracted position when
a force is applied on the handle to move the handle toward the
upright position.
16. An assist arm for use with a patient support structure having a
frame defining a footprint, the assist arm comprising: a support
element having a free end; a hand grip mounted on said free end,
and means for removably mounting the support element on a frame of
the patient support structure for movement between a vertical
operational position and a horizontal stored position below the
frame and within the footprint of the frame.
17. The assist arm of claim 16, wherein the mounting means includes
a bracket having a pair of substantially parallel sides connected
by a web and a fastener for coupling the bracket to the frame.
18. The assist arm of claim 16, further comprising means for
retaining support element in the operational position and the
stored position.
19. The assist arm of claim 18, wherein the retaining means locks
the support element in the vertical operational position and
applies a retention force on the support element when the support
element is in stored position.
20. The assist arm of claim 16, further comprising an actuator
configured to release the retaining means and permit the support
element to be moved from the operational position to the stored
position.
Description
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to patient supports. More
particularly, the present invention relates to a handle on a
hospital bed to assist bed ingress and egress.
[0002] It is known to provide a handle or an assist arm on a
patient support such as a hospital bed, stretcher, table or other
support. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,060,327 and 6,240,583
which are incorporated herein by reference. U.S. Provisional
Application Ser. No. 60/361,960, filed Mar. 5, 2002, is also
expressly incorporated by reference herein.
[0003] In an illustrated embodiment, an assist arm is provided for
use with a patient support structure having a frame. The assist arm
comprises a post attached to the frame and a handle coupled to the
post for rotational movement about the post between an upright
position and a retracted position. The post includes a first bore
having a first depth and a second bore having a second depth that
is greater than the first depth. The handle includes a locking
mechanism which cooperates with the first and second bores to
retain the handle in the retracted position and to lock the handle
in the upright position, respectively. The locking mechanism
automatically releases the handle from the retracted position when
a force is applied on the handle to move the handle toward the
upright position.
[0004] In another illustrated embodiment, an assist arm is provided
for use with a patient support structure having a frame. The assist
arm comprises a bracket having a pair of substantially parallel
sides connected together by a web, the sides being configured to
attach to opposed faces of the frame, a post attached to the
bracket, and a handle coupled to the post for rotational movement
about the post between an upright position and a retracted
position.
[0005] In yet another illustrated embodiment, assist arm is
provided for use with a patient support structure having a frame
defining a footprint. The assist arm comprises a support element
having a free end, a hand grip mounted on said free end, and means
for removably mounting the support element on a frame of the
patient support structure for movement between a vertical
operational position and a horizontal stored position below the
frame and within the footprint of the frame.
[0006] Additional features of the present invention will become
apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the
following detailed description of embodiments of the invention in
conjunction with the associated drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a
handle according to the present invention located in an upright
position.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a side view of the handle of FIG. 1.
[0009] FIG. 3 is an end view of the handle of FIG. 1.
[0010] FIG. 4 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1, showing a
second embodiment of handle according to the present invention
located in an upright position.
[0011] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the handle of FIG. 4 in a
retracted position.
[0012] FIGS. 6 and 7 are perspective views of the handle of FIG. 4
in intermediate positions.
[0013] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the handle
of FIG. 7.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0014] The embodiments described below are merely exemplary and are
not intended to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed.
Instead, the embodiments were selected for description to enable
one of ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention.
[0015] The handle apparatus represented in the figures comprises
primarily an attachment bracket 1 and a handle 5. In one
illustrated embodiment (FIGS. 1-3) the bracket 1 is a "U"-shaped
clamp with two parallel sides 10, 11 and a web 12. Sides 10, 11
form an opening A opposite web 12. In use, sides 10, 11 are
attached above and below the upper and lower faces of a frame 8 of
a patient support, or bed, with suitable fasteners. Thus, frame 8
is received within opening A of bracket 1. Sides 10, 11 thus extend
(along their widths) parallel to a longitudinal axis X-X' of the
bed.
[0016] A lower face of side 11 is fixedly connected to a post 2,
that extends along a longitudinal axis Y-Y', forming an angle, for
example, of 45.degree. relative to sides 10, 11 as best shown in
FIG. 3. A tubular sleeve 3 rotatably engages post 2. Sleeve 3 is
fixedly connected to a tube 4 that extends radially from sleeve 3
in a substantially perpendicular orientation relative thereto. In
the upright position of FIGS. 1-3, tube 4 extends in the opposite
direction of opening A. On the interior of tube 4 is assembled a
locking mechanism 6 as is further described below. An external wall
110 of tube 4 is radially fixed to a foot portion 51 of handle 5. A
grip portion 50 extends from foot portion 51. Grip portion 50 is
intended to be used by the occupant of the bed to support the
occupant when entering and exiting the bed. Handle 5 may be formed
into any of a variety of different shapes.
[0017] In the embodiment of FIGS. 4-7, bracket 1' also is an
attachment bracket, but its sides 10' and 11' extend vertically for
attachment to the corresponding vertical faces of a frame 8. Thus,
opening A' extends upwardly. The horizontal web 12' includes a
horizontal extension 13', to which post 2 is fixed.
[0018] As shown in FIG. 8, post 2 includes a substantially
cylindrical body 20 that extends along axis Y-Y'. Near one end of
body 20 is an annular groove 22. Groove 22 defines an area 21 of
reduced diameter relative to the diameter of other portions of body
20. Two bores 23, 23' are formed into body 20 adjacent its other
end. Bores 23, 23' are aligned with one another on opposite sides
of body 20 (i.e., 180 degrees of separation). Bores 23, 23' are of
substantially identical diameter. First bore 23 is relatively
shallow (for example, about 1.5 mm), while second bore 23' is
deeper (for example about 8 mm).
[0019] Sleeve 3 includes a body 30 that is rotatably engaged on
post 2. The interior diameter of body 30 corresponds, except for
tolerances, to an external diameter of cylindrical body 20 of post
2. Body 30 includes a threaded opening 102 for receiving a screw 31
that engages groove 22 of post 2 when threaded sufficiently into
opening 102. Since groove 22 extends only half way around the
circumference of post 2, screw 31 limits the translation and
rotation of sleeve 3 relative to post 2. Body 30 further includes a
circular opening 33 that, depending upon the rotational position of
sleeve 3, may align with one or the other of bores 23, 23'.
[0020] Tube 4 is hollow, having a bore 40 defined therein. End wall
112 of tube 4 includes an opening 41 of reduced diameter that
communicates with the opening 33 of body 30.
[0021] Locking mechanism 6 extends into bore 40 of tube 4. Locking
mechanism 6 includes a bolt 7 extending into bore 40 and having a
body 61 and an end 64 of substantially identical diameter generally
corresponding to the internal diameter of opening 41. However, in
other embodiments, these diameters of body 61 and end 64 could be
different. Tip 65 of end 64 is chamfered. An intermediate guide
portion 63 is disposed on body 61. The outer diameter of guide
portion 63 corresponds to the interior diameter of bore 40. A
spring 104 is positioned onto body 61, having an outer diameter
that substantially corresponds to the interior diameter of bore 40.
Spring 104 includes a first end 104A that engages guide portion 63
and a second end 104B that engages a stopper 106. Stopper 106 is
placed in bore 40 at the end of tube 4 opposite end wall 112.
Stopper 106 includes a central opening 106A to receive body 61 and
a side opening 106B to receive a screw post 42. An axial groove 62
is formed in body 61, also for receiving screw post 42, which
extends through a threaded opening 43 formed in tube 4. Screw post
42 and groove 62 limit axial displacement of bolt 7 in tube 4.
Screw post 42 and groove 62 also prevent rotation of bolt 7 about
the axis Z-Z'of tube 4.
[0022] Locking mechanism 6 also includes a knob 60 attached to body
61 of bolt 7. By pulling on knob 60 (in the direction of arrow
108), the user compresses spring 104 between stopper 106 and guide
portion 63, and retracts tip 65 of end 64 out of opening 33 of
sleeve 3. When knob 60 is released, spring 104 urges bolt 7 back
into its initial position. When handle 5 is in the retracted
position (FIG. 5), tip 65 of end 64 is located in bore 23. Since
bore 23 is relatively shallow, bolt 7 is simply indexed (i.e.,
weakly locked) in the retracted position. As such, handle 5 may be
moved out of the retracted position without requiring activation of
locking mechanism 6 by pulling knob 60. The indexing, however, is
sufficiently strong to prevent handle 5 from simply falling out of
the retracted position as a result of, for example, vibration
associated with movement of the bed.
[0023] To move handle 5 from the retracted position of FIG. 5 in
which handle 5 is substantially contained in a plane P' parallel to
the ground when the frame is in a flat position, to an upright
position (FIG. 4), the user grasps grip portion 50 of handle 5 and
begins rotational movement about axis Y-Y'. This movement
disengages tip 65 from bore 23. During further rotation of handle 5
about axis Y-Y', as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, tip 65 slides on
cylindrical body 20 of post 2. After swiveling 180.degree., the
upright position of FIG. 4 is reached, and tip 65 engages and is
received by second bore 23' under the biasing force of spring 104,
thus locking handle 5. When in the upright position, the handle 5
is substantially contained in a plane (not pictured) substantially
perpendicular to the plane P'.
[0024] To return to the retracted position, the user illustratively
pulls out on knob 60 and rotates handle 5 about axis Y-Y' in an
opposite direction. In the retracted position, the handle 5 is
located below the frame 8 and also within a footprint defined by
the frame 8. Therefore, the handle 5 may be stored in an
out-of-the-way position on the patient support, or removed entirely
by uncoupling the bracket 1 or 1' from the frame 8.
[0025] In an embodiment not shown, bracket 1 or 1' is eliminated
and post 2 is attached directly to a lower face of frame 8 of the
patient support.
[0026] Although the invention has been described in detail with
reference to specific embodiments, variations and modifications
exist within the scope and spirit of the invention as described and
defined in the following claims.
* * * * *